Lani Misalucha recounts most memorable encounter with Vice Ganda, performance she has ever done

As “Everybody, Sing!” closed its fourth season on October 3 and 4, it made sure to end on a really high note by having not just one, not just two, but three powerhouse celebrity guests for its finale episode. One of them is OPM icon Lani Misalucha, who served as the guest singer in “The Choo-Sing One” segment. 

She made a grand entrance in the Sunday episode by belting out her timeless hit “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin” alongside the Songbayanang Taga-Baseco Compound. After that, she also happily granted Unkabogable Host Vice Ganda’s request for her to sing “A Very Special Love,” as the latter enthused that it’s actually among her favorite songs of the singer.  

Lani further got everyone to sing along when she sang her another classic hit of hers, “Tunay na Mahal,” which accurate lyrics the Row 4 players had to supply in the “The Choo-Sing One.” The song has remained popular across generations, as all the 10 players got the correct answers, doubling the individual P1,000 cash prize that each player was supposed to receive. 

But before we got to witness her spectacular appearance on the “Everybody, Sing!” arena, ABS-CBN Studios caught up first with the one and only Asia’s Nightingale to ask about her preparations and rituals before stepping onstage, her most unforgettable performance and stage mishap, as well as her most memorable encounter with Vice in the past. 

Just like other performers, Lani shares that she always does warm-up exercises to prepare herself for every singing engagement, regardless of whether she’s performing just one or two songs for a gig or an entire setlist for a concert or live show. She also refrains from consuming any food or beverages that may cause phlegm in her throat, such as ice cream.  

In the decades that she has been in the entertainment scene, the seasoned singer surely has a long list of performances under her belt. But she revealed that, among all the performances that she has ever done, the most unforgettable for her would always be her first-ever major concert called “The Crossover Live Tour,” which was held at the Araneta Coliseum in 2001. 

As for her most challenging performance, Lani disclosed that it could be her recent gigs, since her situation now is way different from when she was younger and full of energy. There seem to be things that she can no longer do, making every performance already challenging for her. 

Despite being a revered veteran in the industry, Lani isn’t shy about admitting that she has had her fair share of stage and live performance blunders throughout her stellar career. One of them actually happened just recently during her latest show with “The Voice USA” Season 26 grand winner Sofronio Vasquez in San Diego, California.  

Since both of them had already sung Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”—Sofronio during his stint in “The Voice USA” Season 26, while Lani released her own rendition in 1998—they agreed to perform a duet of the song. However, even though she has sung it thousands of times already, Lani was appalled when she suddenly struggled to find the right pitch and hit the right notes, particularly when they had to do the transpose, which she found absolutely embarrassing. 

Those who caught the finale episode of “Everybody, Sing!” probably noticed how Lani and Vice seemed to be very close to each other. Well, it’s because they’ve already worked together countless times over the years! But among all their encounters, Lani shared that her most unforgettable encounter with the Unkabogable Star was the first time they worked together in the United States and Canada, where they did five shows in different cities—an experience she thoroughly enjoyed. 

Already missing the fun kantahan and kulitan? Watch the full episodes of “Everybody, Sing!” on iWant and ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel.